I think I'll sketch up full predictions once all the matches are set, but for now I'm thinking Detroit and Calgary in one semifinal, Buffalo and Jersey in the other(assuming they don't play each other in the first round). San Jose could sneak in the first, and Carolina the other especially if the first round thing does happen. Finals: Calgary and Jersey, which would make me very happy. Brodeur vs Kipper would be awesome.

Once Detroit gets Datsyuk back they will stream through the playoffs.

I mean, they have 2 of the BEST young players in the league (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, 27, 25 respectively). They have TWO goalies who both have a .900 or greater win percentage. And they have the best streak in the NHL right now.

Oh, and they have been the BEST team the last 15 years. Which coincidentaly is only a few years after Yzerman joined the team.

So the West is set. 1 Detroit vs 8 Edmonton, 2 Dallas vs 7 Colorado(wow), 3 Calgary vs 6 Anaheim, and 4 Nashville vs 5 San Jose. I think Detroit, Dallas, Calgary, and San Jose will win. Detroit plays San Jose and that's where the big upset could happen, Calgary and Dallas would be close but I think Calgary would win.

Well, Carolina lost and Ottawa won, so Ottawa clinches first in the conference. Philly won, and the Rangers lost, so Philly's in first in the Atlantic, for now. New Jersey still has a period left, but they're losing 3-1 to Montreal, who - if they win - will play Carolina. Tampa's losing to Washington and looks to play Ottawa. If New Jersey loses, they'll finish in 6th and play Philly, while Buffalo and New York will play. Those should all be good series.

Ok, never mind - New Jersey just tied it. That's gonna be a good third period.

Well that was one helluva comeback. New Jersey wins, 4-3. So they take the division. And now the East matchups are set too.

1 Ottawa vs. 8 Tampa Bay
2 Carolina vs. 7 Montreal
3 New Jersey vs. 6 New York Rangers
4 Buffalo vs. 5 Philadelphia

I'll take Ottawa, Montreal, New Jersey, and Philly.

In the West:

1 Detroit vs. 8 Edmonton
2 Dallas vs. 7 Colorado
3 Calgary vs. 6 Anaheim
4 Nashville vs. 5 San Jose

I'll take Detroit, Dallas, Calgary, and San Jose.

I hope Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary clean up

As do I, but I doubt it'll happen. Still, I'm picking three of them - all but my own team! - to at least win the first round, and my final prediction is Ottawa/Calgary, so...

Yay, I'm so glad you guys are picking Montreal. Hehe. I as well also hope the Canadian teams win.

I see Dallas taking the western conference, but I'd love a Calgary/Edmonton winner.

Don't really have a clue who will take eastern conference. I could honestly see it being many different teams, since Ottawa, Carolina, Buffalo and New York are all strong, I think. The biased side in me will say Montreal will go all the way (duh) but with the loss tonight, they aren't going in looking great at all.

I'm excited, that's all I can say!! Let's rock and roll. The 21st can't come soon enough.

PEACE, Mike.

I'm a bit on the fence with Ottawa and Montreal. Montreal is a team that seems to thrive while under pressure, while Ottawa is almost the exact opposite. I wouldn't at all be suprised if Montreal outlasts Ottawa in the eastern conference...although I wouldn't bet on it.

And yes, a Calgary/Edmonton showdown in the western conferance finale would be hot. Especially if the estearn conference had an Ottawa/Montreal face-off (although I don't think that's possible given the rankings).

I actually see Carolina as bigger competition for Montreal than Ottawa. Montreal actually tied the season series with Ottawa (4 wins each), so they are definately capable of defeating Ottawa. I was hoping that Carolina would win the conference. If Montreal can get past Carolina, I could see them having the confidence after that to defeat Ottawa (who they would play next, if Ottawa wins vs. Tampa Bay in the first round).

PEACE, Mike.

The Sens are my team, and I'm so happy that they did so well this season, but they just don't have the best luck in the playoffs. Hopefully they do this year.

Anyone interested in participating in a playoff pool? Nothing much, just predicting who'll win each series, and in how many games. You get points for picking the winner, and a bonus for picking the right amount of games. I'd run it, unless anyone else wanted to. Anyone up for this?

I'm in! I say we also predict game by game too, but it doesn't really matter to me. I just find predicting game by game to be more fun, and it would open up the game a bit more (most people can realize who the favourite is to win a series, minus a couple possible upsets).

But doesn't matter. You set up any kind of pool, and I'm in!

PEACE, Mike.

Count me in too!

I'm in

Ok, I'm glad people are interested, but I'd like to get some more, if possible. I'll start a thread later tonight with all the info.

I'm thinking that, in addition to having everyone make predictions on who's going to win each series, there should be some extra questions like "Who's gonna lead in scoring for the round?" and "In what series will the longest game occur?". Does that sound good to everyone? I'll have a set of questions for each round, and then a set of questions for the whole playoffs that should be answered at the start. K?

Sounds good.

I'm thinking in the West it'll be Detroit, Dallas, Calgary, and San Jose. The first two have potential to be upset, but I'd still bet on them.

In the East I'll go with Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Jersey, and Buffalo. It's a lot harder on the East though.

Jersey is a pretty sure thing in my mind, and I think Buffalo is one of the strongest in the league also so I'll pick them. Carolina vs Montreal is pretty even, though I'll still say the favorite takes it. Ottawa losing to Tampa is my big upset, Ottawa is the clear favorite but their nerves them so many times before. Tampa underperformed in the season, so they have potential to really kick it up a notch which I think they will.

I'm changing my mind, and thinking that Edmonton can upset Detroit. Mostly because they're my team, but also Edmonton plays much better against the good teams then against the crappy ones - they beat Detroit twice this year. Add in the fact that Roloson's starting to get hot, and I think that he can outplay Legace and the Oilers can take the series. It'll be close, but I think they can.

That and Montreal are my two upsets.

Here's an article that I thought was REALLY good...

If you're interested...

Stevie Y... The Legend

Woot! Oilers are holding well against Detroit. Sloppy powerplay near the end, but still decent playing. 1-1 so far.

Tampa Bay is up 1-0 on Ottawa. Lecavilier, from Boyle and Richards. The Lightning of 2004 are alive...

Man, I'm so excited!!! I love the playoffs.

WIsh I could update my predictions. I should have known that Ottawa was going to choke since they, like, always do.

Yep, playoffs are awesome. Tampa Bay currently winning, Edmonton currently winning, Nashville caught up and is winning. All close games. Let's see how it'll play out.

PEACE, Mike.

Baumer for Edmonton They put up a good fight though -- and they should be extremely proud of their goalie.


And I take back what I said about Ottawa earlier, heh.